Thread by @DanielRAlonso

THREAD: Without the slightest sense of irony, advocates come together to try and squelch an advocacy group they don’t like: the #DistrictAttorneys Association of the State of N.Y. (DAASNY) /1
gothamgazette.com/state/8356-sta… via @GothamGazette

DAASNY President and @AlbanyCountyDA
@DavidSoaresNY: “There is an unfortunate misperception that DAASNY is opposed to reform. This is far from the truth.” /2

Soares: “For decades DAASNY has been at the forefront of alternatives to incarceration programs. We supported legislation to allow the sealing of past criminal convictions and to help convicted offenders obtain a second chance.” /3

Soares: “Rejecting DAASNY may make you a political darling amongst a small segment of supporters, but it won't make you a better prosecutor.” That’s for sure, but I question whether some candidates have any interest in being good prosecutors. /4

Good for @BrooklynDA
@DAErieCountyNY
@ManhattanDA
@TimSini
@madelinesingas
for rejecting naked attempts to silence these voices. /5

Likewise, good for Queens DA candidates @MinaMalikForDA
@GregLasak
@MelindaKatz
@LugoTrueJustice
@JoseNievesForDA
for rejecting this issue as a campaign litmus test. /6

Not so good: @cabanforqueens and @RoryLancman, for pledging the opposite. /7

Maybe the advocates should seek to engage with DAASNY rather than ostracize them? In fact, I remember many productive discussions with the Innocence Project re: recording interrogations & eyewitness ID. /8

DAASNY, as is so often the case, supported reform in those areas, but wanted to ensure that #NYS avoided unintended consequences of well-meaning reforms. /9

These advocates are clearly well-meaning, but seeking to snuff out other advocacy groups is never the answer. /10